Where does it start and where does it end? It rises at Source-Seine, 19 miles northwest of Dijon in northeastern France in the Langres plateau, flowing through Paris and into the English Channel at Le Havre.

How deep? The average depth of the Seine in Paris is about nine and a half meters. Until locks were installed to raise the level in the 1800s, the river was much shallower within the city most of the time, and consisted of a small channel of continuous flow bordered by sandy banks. There are 37 bridges within Paris.

Flooding? In January 1910, the Seine flooded 20 feet above normal, drowning streets throughout the city of Paris and sending thousands of Parisians fleeing to emergency shelters.

Interesting facts: In 1991 UNESCO added the banks of the Seine in Paris—the Rive Gauche and Rive Droite—to its list of World Heritage Sites in Europe. According to his will, Napoleon, who died in 1821, wished to be buried on the banks of the Seine. His request was not granted.

And finally, during the 19th and the 20th centuries in particular, the Seine inspired many artists, including George Seurat’s “Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte”.